iOS, macOS, and iPadOS 26.5 updates arrive with encrypted RCS messaging and more

Apple’s iOS, macOS, and iPadOS 26.5 updates deliver encrypted RCS messaging, finally closing cross-platform privacy gaps that have plagued users for years. The update applies end-to-end encryption to all 1.2 billion active iMessage users when messaging Android devices, a 40% improvement in security coverage over the previous plaintext RCS standard. This milestone outperforms #5 (Google Messages), which still lacks default encryption for RCS group chats. By integrating this feature across three major operating systems simultaneously, Apple sets a new industry benchmark for unified privacy without compromising user experience.